A look at fish related diseases

CALIFORNIA - The Truckee River Watershed Council hosted a meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 6 on the subject of bacterial kidney disease caused by the bacterium Renibacterium salmoninarum (RS), a disease that affects both hatchery and wild salmonids (trout and salmon).

It was an informative session with panel members from the California Department of Fish and Game and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Dr. William Cox, a fish pathologist from the California Department of Fish and Game, a disease expert presented a very good Powerpoint presentation on the disease which is listed as a serious disease by the California Department of Fish and Game.

The disease is of great concern to hatchery operations, but the disease itself is very difficult to detect because it rarely shows in fish less than six months of age.

Cox indicated that the pathogen that causes bacterial kidney disease is already present in the Truckee River drainage.